Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stimulation of Photoactive Absorption of Sunlight in Thin Layers of Silicon Structures by Metal Nanoparticles

  • SOLAR ENGINEERING MATERIALS SCIENCE
  • Published:
Applied Solar Energy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study is devoted to analysis by the method of modeling photoelectric processes of charge transfer in thin silicon structures with a p–n junction containing nanoparticles of various metals, their sizes, and volume distribution.The absorption and current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of thin-film silicon solar cells, which contain the metal nanoparticles localized on the surface dielectric antireflecting coating, in the emitter and base with high and low doping degree, and on the interfaces of these layers, are defined. As a basic method for research, the Sentaurus TCAD is chosen, which includes the Structure Device Editor, Sentaurus Device, Sentaurus Visual, and Sentaurus Workbench packages with wide capabilities for modelling silicon solar cells with a flat p–n junction. The absorption and I–V characteristics of photoelectric converters, containing metal nanoparticles in various thin layers of the structure, are determined by analyzing the computational results and discussing the physical nature of observable processes. The recommendations are offered for creating thin-film silicon plasmonic p–n junction solar cells with optimized sizes of metal nanoparticles, their distribution, and, hence, with improved efficiency of photoelectric conversion of energy. The expediency of creation of ultraviolet radiation detectors on the basis of thin-film silicon structures with metal nanoparticles is shown. The absorption and I–V characteristics of photoelectric converters, containing metal nanoparticles in thin layers of the dielectric coating, emitter, and base with high and low doping degrees and also on interfaces of these layers are compared. The most effective absorption of the solar spectrum in the region of the emitter up to the metallurgical border of the p–n junction and the best efficiency of photoelectric energy conversion of silicon solar cells are revealed. The optimum sizes of metals nanoparticles, regularities of their distribution, and depths of occurrence of the p–n junction for thin layers of crystalline silicon are defined. The recommendations for creation of third-generation thin-film silicon plasmonic solar cells and high-sensitivity photovoltaic detectors of ultra-violet radiation are developed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Bessel’, V.V., Kucherov, V.G., and Mingaleeva, R.D., Izuchenie solnechnykh fotoelektricheskikh elementov. Uchebno-metodicheskoe posobie (Study of Solar Photovoltaic Cells. Handbook), Moscow: Izd. Tsentr Ross. Gos. Univ. Nefti i Gaza im. Gubkina, 2016.

  2. Lizunkova, D.A., Study of the electrical and optical properties of photosensitive structures on nanostructured silicon, Cand. Sci. (Phys.–Math.) Dissertation, Samara, 2018, p. 150.

  3. Nikitin, B.A. and Gusarov, V.A., Experimental assessment of reflection coefficient of silicon photoelectric converters, Al’tern. Energ. Ekol. (ISJAEE), 2016, nos. 7–8, pp. 12–18. https://doi.org/10.15518/isjaee.2016.07-08.012-018

  4. Dyskin, V.G. and Dzhanklych, M.U., Antireflection textured coating for silicon solar cells, Appl. Sol. Energy, 2015, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 83–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Solanki, C.S. and Singh, H.K., Anti-reflection and light trapping in c-Si solar cells, Green Energy and Technology, Singapore: Springer Nature, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4771-8

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Chang, T.H., Wu., P.H., Chen, S.H., et al., Efficiency enhancement in GaAs solar cells using self-assembled microspheres, Opt. Express, 2009, vol. 17, no. 8, p. 6519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dharmadasa, I.M., Bingham, P.A., Echendu, O.K., et al., Fabrication of CdS/CdTe-based thin film solar cells using an electrochemical technique, Coatings, 2014, no. 4, pp. 380–415. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings4030380

  8. Yusupov, A., Adambaev, K., Turaev, Z.Z., et al., Preparation and electrical properties of p-Cu2ZnSnS4/n-Si heterojunctions, Peterb. Zh. Elektron., 2016, no. 2, pp. 143–147.

  9. Saidov, A.S., Amonov, K.A., and Kutlimurotov, B.R., Direct solar conversion to electricity nanoscale effects in pSi–n(Si2)1 – x(ZnSe)x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.01) of solar cells, Appl. Sol. Energy, 2016, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhao, J., Wang, A., Altermatt, P., and Green, M.A., Twenty-four percent efficient silicon solar cells with double layer antireflection coatings and reduced resistance loss, Appl. Phys. Lett., 1995, vol. 66, no. 26, p. 3636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zeng, L., Yi., Y., Hong, C., et al., Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector, Appl. Phys. Lett., 2006, vol. 89, no. 11, p. 1111.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hauser, A., Melnyk, I., Fath, P., et al., A simplified process for isotropic texturing of mc-Si, in Proceedings of WCPEC-3, Osaka, 2003, pp. 1447–1450.

  13. Cao, F., Chen, K., Zhang, J., et al. Next-generation multicrystalline silicon solar cells: Diamondwire sawing, nano-texture and high efficiency, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 2015, no. 141, pp. 132–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.05.030

  14. Khaidukov, E.V., Khramova, O.D., Rocheva, V.V., et al., Laser texturing of silicon to create solar cells, Izv. Vuzov. Priborostr., 2011, vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 26–32.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yoo, J., Yu, G., and Yi, J., Black surface structures for crystalline silicon solar cells, Mater. Sci. Eng., B, 2009, vols. 159–160, pp. 333–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Muminov, R.A., Azamatov, Z.T., Akbarova, N.A., et al., Effect of holographic coatings on the efficiency of silicon photoconverters, Appl. Sol. Energy, 2014, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 156–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jooss, W., Melnyk, I., Jung-König, J., et al., Development and optimization of a novel inline black silicon texturing process for increased solar cell performance, in Proceedings of 33rd EU PVSEC, Amsterdam, 2017, pp. 368–372.

  18. Peters, M., Bielawny, A., Bläsi, B., et al., Photonic concepts for solar cells, in Physics of Nanostructured Solar Cells, Badescu, V. and Paulescu, M., Eds., Hauppauge, NY: NOVA Science, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Atwater, H. and Polman, A., Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices, Nat. Mater., 2010, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 205–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Protsenko, I.E. and Uskov, A.V., Photoemission from metal nanoparticles, Phys. Usp., 2012, vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 508–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Klimov, V.V., Nanoplazmonika (Nanoplasmonics), Moscow: Fizmatlit, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Aliev, R., Nosirov, M., Yuldasheva, N., et al., Increasing the optical efficiency of silicon solar cells by using metal nanoparticles, in Materialy mezhdunarodnoi konferentsii “Sovremennye problemy vozobnovlyaemykh istochnikov energii i ustoichivoi okruzhayushchei sredy” (Proc. International Conference “Contemporary Issues of Renewable Energy Sources and Sustainable Environment”), Tashkent, Sept. 25–27, 2019, pp. 14–20.

  23. Schuller, J.A., Barnard, E.S., Cai., W., et al., Plasmonics for extreme light concentration and manipulation, Nat Mater., 2010, vol. 9, no. 4, p. 368. ww.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20168343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kneipp, K., Moskovits, M., and Kneipp, H., Topics in Applied Physics, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2006, vol. 103, pp. 47–65.

  25. Hetterich, J., Bastian, G., Gippius, N.A., et al., Optimized design of plasmonic MSM photodetector, IEEE J. Quantum Electron., 2007, vol. 43, no. 10, pp. 855–859.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Aliev, R., Gulomov, Zh., and Abduvokhidov, M., Ultraviolet detector, Uzb. Patent No. FAP 2020 0013, 2020.

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank colleagues of the Semiconductor Photovoltaics Laboratory at the Andijan State University for methodical and technical assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by the World Bank within the innovative project of the Uzbek Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education No. FAI-2/7.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andijan State University, 170100, Andijan, Uzbekistan

    R. Aliev, J. Gulomov, M. Abduvohidov, Z. Ziyoitdinov & N. Yuldasheva

Authors
  1. R. Aliev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Gulomov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Abduvohidov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Aliev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Z. Ziyoitdinov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. N. Yuldasheva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Aliev.

Additional information

Translated by M. Samokhina

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aliev, R., Gulomov, J., Abduvohidov, M. et al. Stimulation of Photoactive Absorption of Sunlight in Thin Layers of Silicon Structures by Metal Nanoparticles. Appl. Sol. Energy 56, 364–370 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X20050035

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X20050035

Keywords:

Search

Navigation